Health Fellow Nimali Withana

Dr Nimali Withana is a researcher at Stanford University who specialises in breast cancer. The Harold Mitchell Health Fellowship let Nimali (then at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute) visit two US-based leaders in the field, Dr Bonnie Sloane and Dr Matthew Bogyo. The latter is a pioneer in the design and synthesis of activity-based probes and inhibitors of cancer targets.

Through the trip, “I was exposed to a calibre of research that I have not previously experienced,” Nimali says. “I have learnt new techniques and have formed close collaborations and friendships that I would not have had if I hadn’t received this opportunity.”

Nimali now works with Dr Bogyo at Standford. She is “hoping that the knowledge I gain from this exciting post-doctoral position in Dr Bogyo’s laboratory will lay a solid foundation for me to carry on in the field of cancer research.”

“I hope to gain more insights and expertise in this exciting field of cancer research and to ultimately take this experience and set up my own research laboratory and continue to contribute to the field of cancer metastasis.”

“Receiving the Harold Mitchell Health Fellowship allowed me to set these collaborations up and for that, I am forever grateful.”